British Ice Hockey Elite League
Current season, competition or edition: 2017–18 EIHL season
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| Sport | Ice hockey |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2003 |
| Inaugural season | 2003–04 |
| No. of teams | 12 |
| Country |
 United Kingdom
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| Headquarters | London, England, United Kingdom |
| Continent | Europe |
| Most recent champion(s) |
Cardiff Devils (1st title) |
| Most titles | Sheffield Steelers (25 titles) |
| Official website | www |
The Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL) is a ice hockey league in the United Kingdom. Formed in 2003 following the demise of the Ice Hockey Superleague, it is the highest level of ice hockey competition in the United Kingdom.
The league currently consists of twelve teams (the most since the league has started), with representation from all four nations of the United Kingdom – the only league in any sport to do so. In fourteen completed seasons the league has been won by five different teams.
The day-to-day operation of the league is overseen by chairman Eamon Convery, Director of Hockey Andy French, and a board of directors. Disciplinary matters are handled by Director of Discipline and former referee Simon Kirkham. The level below the Elite League is the National Ice Hockey League. A system of promotion and relegation is not operated by the Elite League; teams enter the league on the basis of a decision by the board of directors.
Several competitions fall under the jurisdiction of the Elite League.
The League consists of three conferences, the results of which are compiled in one league table:
Teams play the three sides in their conference eight times (24 games). They play the eight teams from the other conferences four times (32 games), making for a 56-game regular season. Two points are awarded for a win and one for an overtime or penalty shootout defeat. Overtime consists of five minutes of three-on-three hockey and ends immediately if a goal is scored. The team that has most points at the end of the regular season is declared champion.
The Playoffs are contested by the teams with the best regular season records. The winner is crowned the champion of the British Championship. The number of teams competing in the playoffs has varied. However, since the 2006–07 season, the top eight teams of the regular season have qualified for the quarter-finals, with their league position determining their seeding. All quarter-finals are two-legged ties. Both the semi-finals and the final take place over a single weekend in April at the National Ice Centre in Nottingham.
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